The holiday events list is packed again this week, just 22 days before Christmas dawns on a Tuesday morning.

Towns in Pamlico and Jones counties have special annual events.

There’s a “Christmas on Main Street” in Pollocksville Friday night, with Oriental’s “Spirit of Christmas” spanning Friday and Saturday, with a Friday evening flotilla and a Saturday afternoon parade.

More parades are on tap — Havelock on Saturday and the Cove City parade Sunday.

Saturday is again busy in New Bern, with annual events such as the Christ Church Cookie Walk, New Bern Women’s Club “The Holly and The Ivy” tour and a perennial staple, the “Christmas Candlelight” tours at Tryon Palace.

Holiday music comes in the form of special concerts, ranging from Tuesday’s Celtic Christmas Concert at the North Carolina History Center to the Craven Community Chorus’ annual show, which spans three performances, along with the second of Bear City Opry’s Christmas specials.

The Oriental Spirit of Christmas Parade is at 4 p.m.Saturday, beginning on Ragan Road.

Participants can sign up at the Village Hardware, 249-1211 or call 249-0023.

The Havelock Christmas Parade is Saturday at 2:30 p.m.The theme for this year’s parade is "The Joy of Christmas."

CoveCity’s parade is at 3 p.m.on Sunday, with any business, group or organization welcome.

The participants’ lineup will begin at 2 p.m.at the intersection of Brown Avenueand Old U.S. 70, formally White’s Family Restaurant. Santa will also be in town that day to visit with children at the Cove City Library after the parade. For information, call 633-1595.

Here is a sampling of the week’s offerings:

New Bern-Craven County Public Library has several events this week, beginning with Tuesday’s “Lunch ‘n Learn — Where Does All The Garbage Go?”

The public’s health, drinking water, recreational waters and the general beauty of the native landscape all depend upon its proper handling. Join Bobbi Waters, Planner/Outreach Coordinator for the city of New Bern at noon and learn how that happens. Bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages and desserts will be served.

Learn to make creative and unique cards for the holidays. All materials will be provided. Registration is limited. Sign up at the information desk or call 638-7807.

Also Wednesday, the YA Book Club for teens discusses “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien at 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is required. The book is available at the library.

The December Artist of the Month reception is at 7 p.m. Thursday, featuring Karen Rawson. Rawson paints in oils and acrylics. She is a plein air artist, featuring landscapes and still life. The public is invited.

Page 2 of 5 - “Mittens and Music!” is a Sunday family program to benefit the Salvation Army. Bring a sweater, or choose one from the collection. The 2:15 p.m. event is open to the public.

The Annual Salvation Army and New Bern Fire Rescue Food Drive Thursday and Friday at C-TV10 at 1308 S. Glenburnie Road in New Bern from 7 to 9 a.m.

Donations of non-perishable food will help support the needy in the community for the coming year.

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The seventh annual Wounded Warrior Christmas Leave Fundraiser is Thursday at the New Bern Golf and Country Club in Trent Woods.

The 6 p.m. patriotic event stems from a pledge several years ago by local members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart to give Wounded Warriors what they wanted for Christmas – a chance to be with family for the holidays.

This fundraiser offers an opportunity to meet Wounded Warriors from the barracks at their recuperation facility at Camp Lejeune and listen to their stories.

The $30 per person event ends at 9 p.m. and includes plenty of food, a cash bar and live music.

Checks should be made payable to “MOPH-Wounded Warrior Leave” and sent to Jana Tyson, 1915 Trent Blvd., New Bern, NC 28560.

Donations are tax deductible and all proceeds will be spent for the Wounded Warrior Christmas effort to either buy airline tickets and hotel stays for those able to go home, or to bring their families to be with them here.

RSVP stevetyson55@gmail or call 252-514-9157.

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The Craven Community Chorus Christmas — “Christmas From Afar” has three shows this week. There are 7 p.m. concerts Thursday and Saturday with the chorus and orchestra at Orringer Auditorium on the campus of Craven Community College. There is also a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee, also at Orringer.

Under the direction of Maestro Philip Evancho, the groups will perform John Rutter’s “Gloria.”

Tickets can be purchased from any chorus member or at Bank of the Arts, Fullers Music, and River Bend Market. Tickets are $12. each in advance, $15 at the door.

The performances are in the historic Athens Theatre of New Bern Civic Theatre on Pollock Street.

Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for youth, age 12 and under.

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Pollocksville volunteers host the second annual “Christmas on Main Street” Friday in downtown.

Events are from 5 to 8 p.m. Activities and displays include luminaria lining the street, Fire on the Water, Santa, historic homes, T & H Treasures, Pottery Studio & Letterpress Studio demos. Antique Car Show, free children’s crafts, bonfire with s’mores, live music with bluegrass, dulcimer, chamber/piano and country. There will also be songs by adult and children’s choirs.

The grand finale is the “Parade on Main” to the Trent River for the tree lighting and Christmas carols.

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The Craven/Pamlico MADD Chapter hosts a “Tie One On For Safety” event Friday at the New Bern Mall Parking lot. It begins at 9 a.m.

MADD chapters work with local law enforcement for high-visibility holiday crackdowns to reduce the number of drunken driving deaths and injuries on the roadways.

The group will have biscuits and coffee for those who come through. The local MADD members, V103.3 and Nationwide Insurance will tie red ribbons on individual’s vehicles. For information, call Jenna Leissner, chapter leader at 349-0813 or email cpcmadd@gmail.com.

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The 2012 Christmas Gala is Friday evening at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m., with an open bar and a ride home, if needed.

It includes cocktails and canapés, plated dinner and gourmet dessert. Live entertainment is by the band Groovetown.

Tickets are $55 a person or $625 for a table of 10.

It is hosted by the Home Builders Association of Craven and Pamlico counties.

The 14th annual “The Holly and The Ivy” Holiday Homes Tour in the New Bern Historic District on Saturday features six homes and a bed and breakfast, all decorated especially for the fundraising tour by the New Bern Women’s Club.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 on Saturday, with $130 for packages of 10 people. Tickets are available at the Bank of the Arts and Harris Teeter in New Bern. Call Sandra Rawlings at 514-6716.

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The 14th annual Cookie Walk by the parish women of Christ Episcopal Church is Saturday at the church ministry center on Middle Street in New Bern from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For 50 cents an ounce, visitors get home-made treats and help support a number of local charities. The event also has live music, crafts and lunch available.

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New Bern Ballet Presents the Christmas favorite “The Nutcracker” in six performances, two of which are open to the public — Saturday and Sunday at Grover C. Fields Middle School. The 2 p.m. shows are 90 -minute children’s version of Tchaikovsky’s classic.

Page 4 of 5 - Admission is $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door, available from any cast member, at the Bank of the Arts, or on the Web: newbernballet.com/tickets.

The ballet troops will also presents shows for Craven County students and perform at the Cherry Point air station Christmas Party.

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The students of Dramatastico present an inclusive readers’ theatre performance of “The Light Home” on Saturday at Trent River Coffee Company on Craven Street in New Bern.

The 2 p.m. performance is one of a series of diverse holiday vignettes written by Beth Gosnell and Patricia Thomas; They are directed by Gosnell and Krissy Boccia, with assistant director Noah Auten.

Tickets are $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12 and children 5 and under are free. Call Gosnell at 633-6082. Seating is limited.

Gov. Tryon and his wife Margaret invite guests to a grand masquerade in the Governor’s Palace and the venue includes exotic decorations, masked characters, and historic entertainment. Musicians and colonial entertainers can be found on the Palace grounds. The evening ends with a grand illumination behind the Governor’s Palace.

The Palace dance troop Jonkonnu performs at the Palace front gates.

There is also the decorated historic Stanly House and holiday shopping is available at the Holiday Craft and Garden Shop behind the Stable Office.

Tickets for Christmas Candlelight are $20 for adults, $12 for Council of Friends members and $10 for students. Tickets be purchased in advance, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., at the North Carolina History Center or by calling 639-3524 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

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Bear City Opry hosts its second Christmas show Saturday night at the Masonic Theater on Hancock Street.

For the Christmas shows, the Opry cast will be joined on stage by the New Bern High School Drill Team Part of the proceeds will go to aid the drill team’s trip to the upcoming national competition in March.

Admission is $15 for advance tickets, $18 at the door, with youngsters under 12 years, $5.

Tickets are also available at Hearn Jewelers, and Fuller’s Music.

For ticket information, call 670-7082.

On the web: Bearcityopry.com

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The North CarolinaHistoryCenterpresents “Christmas-In-A-Shoebox” Sunday in Cullman Performance Hall.

It is the holiday story of a family of sharecroppers outside Kinston in an original family play.

The production is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers.

Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students and it is included in regular admission.

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There is an extension date for Coastal Carolina Regional Airport drop-off point for Toys for Tots. It will continue to Dec. 16.

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Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or charlie.hall@newbernsj.com